WWE Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan has revealed that he was shocked to learn he would win the first-ever Royal Rumble match in 1988.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Duggan admitted that he had no idea he was chosen as the inaugural winner until the day of the event.
“I have no idea, I was never an office guy, that’s why I was never a producer. I never schmoozed back then in the Gorilla Position. So we get to the building, and I’m looking down at the sheet and I’m like, ‘I’m winning this thing?’ Nobody was more surprised than me to win that sucker, that’s for sure, man.”
The first Royal Rumble match took place on January 24, 1988, and saw Duggan outlast 19 other competitors, ultimately eliminating One Man Gang to claim victory. While the match has since become one of WWE’s most prestigious annual events, Duggan’s unexpected win remains a defining moment in his career. Duggan never held a major singles or tag team championship in WWE. Despite this, he considers his Royal Rumble victory the greatest achievement of his wrestling career.
“Obviously, it’s the biggest feather in my cap, I was never world champion, I was never tag team champion, I was never Intercontinental Champion. I was lucky to win a match, brother.”
Duggan’s historic victory set the stage for the Royal Rumble to become one of WWE’s marquee events, and though he may not have expected to win, his name is forever etched in wrestling history as the first-ever Royal Rumble winner.
Which Unlikely Former WWE Superstar Does “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Believe Should Be In The Hall Of Fame?
Jim Duggan spoke about how he believes that the former Brooklyn Brawler, Steve Lombardi, should be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Duggan said that due to Lombardi’s longevity in the company, having started working for them in 1983 and retiring in 2016, he deserves a spot in the coveted Hall of Fame.
H/t to TJRWrestling.net
Inside the Ropes is hosting an intimate evening with “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, who will be joining ITR on a tour across the UK where he will sit down and tell his stories on stage. Shows will be taking place on March 18th in Glasgow, March 19th in Manchester, and March 20th in London. For more information and to get tickets click here!